May, 24, 2006 – Police have picked up a 13-year-old boy in connection with bomb threats called in to 911 Wednesday. Emergency 911 dispatchers received a call at 6:50 a.m. saying bombs had been placed at Elena Christian Junior High School and St. Croix Central High School on St. Croix. The suspect, a student at Elena Christian, was arrested on the premises of the school at approximately 7:30 a.m., a release issued from the V.I. Police Department Wednesday afternoon said.
Police spokeswoman Shawna Richards said she couldn't be specific about how the police traced the threats to the youngster but did say, "Police have been following some leads in other bomb threats," so when the call came in Wednesday morning, the police were prepared to make the arrest.
St. Croix Deputy Chief of Police Herminio Velazquez said the minor has been charged with bomb hoax and false reporting second degree and released to his parents' custody. Reporting a false bomb threat is a crime under Title 14 of the V.I. Code, punishable by a minimum $5,000 fine and imprisonment of not less than five years. However, Richards said the code isn't specific for minors.
The Police Department continues to investigate the recent bomb threats made in both districts, the release said. Police ask anyone with information on any crime or who may have witnessed suspicious activity to contact the Major Crime Unit on St. Thomas at 715-5534, 715-5546 or the hotline at 715-5544.
On St. Croix, contact the Criminal Investigations Bureau at 778-2211 extensions 6031, 6033, 6037 or 6082 or the hotline at 778-4950.
Persons residing in either district may also call Emergency 911 with any information. All information provided will be held in the strictest of confidence.
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